Commemoration of six-month anniversary of tornado outbreak planned in Athens

ATHENS, Alabama -- The City of Athens and Limestone County are planning a short program Thursday to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the April 27 tornado outbreak, according to a news release.

At 8 a.m. at the Storytelling Festival tent on Marion Street, city and county officials will ask for a moment of silence, followed by a prayer by Limestone County resident Chris Preston.

The tornadoes that ripped through Limestone County hit Preston's house and the homes of his sons and mother, according to the release. Preston's business and the church he attends, Bethel Church of Christ, were destroyed.

"This will be a five-10 minute gathering to reflect on the impact the storms had on our community and how the community responded to help victims," Athens spokeswoman Holly Hollman wrote in the release.